Jiu Jitsu and weightlifting

[Honestly]

This is stemming from another thread where many people have suggested that practicing BJJ has hindered their mass and strength gains. Why is this and do you feel it to be true?

Thanks a lot!

[BuffaloGrappler]

The simple answer is that BJJ is cardio. Cardio is not conducive to building mass. If you're burning calories rolling, that energy is not going to repairing your muscles. This is why you typically don't see huge grapplers, mma fighters, boxers, etc. All high cardio sports. Without some synthetic assistance, you aren't going to get huge doing BJJ.

[Honestly]

The simple answer is that BJJ is cardio. Cardio is not conducive to building mass. If you're burning calories rolling, that energy is not going to repairing your muscles. This is why you typically don't see huge grapplers, mma fighters, boxers, etc. All high cardio sports. Without some synthetic assistance, you aren't going to get huge doing BJJ.

very logical answer. much appreciated. thanks

[DCSpartan]

This is why you typically don't see huge grapplers, mma fighters, boxers, etc. .

baloney.

Mike Tyson.
Brock Lesnar
The Klitschko brothers
and every other heavyweight fighter out there.

[KidAlchemy]

baloney.

Mike Tyson.
Brock Lesnar
The Klitschko brothers
and every other heavyweight fighter out there.

Genetics brah. And Tyson was a relatively small heavyweight.

And to ad to your list:
- Rousimar Pahlares
- Hector Lombard
- Brian Stann
- Ryan Bader
- Vitor Belfort
- Phil Davis

And yes, I skimmed through fighters from ufc.com.

[Paragonnate]

The simple answer is that BJJ is cardio. Cardio is not conducive to building mass. If you're burning calories rolling, that energy is not going to repairing your muscles. This is why you typically don't see huge grapplers, mma fighters, boxers, etc. All high cardio sports. Without some synthetic assistance, you aren't going to get huge doing BJJ.

I feel like this is a blanket statement. While many of the top level grapplers due juice like nobody's business, you don't need roids to gain weight while grappling, you just have to eat like a horse to get a caloric excess. I've gone from 175-197 in the last 2 years all while grappling twice a day in addition to weight training. Granted, its taken longer than it would if I were just lifting, but it's been mostly lean gains due to all the conditioning.

[DCSpartan]

Genetics brah

hard work brah

Mike Tyson was 5'10 - that isnt genetically gifted.

[BuffaloGrappler]

Yes, you guys are right, there are anomalies at the highest levels of the sport, just like every other sport. Yes, it is possible to make strength and size gains while doing high levels of cardio. But for your typical guy who trains BJJ and lifts weights, it's going to take some serious effort to make big gains. I've been in many BJJ/MMA/Wrestling gyms over the years and rarely run into monsters like listed above.

I could also open pandora's box that having a lot of mass hinders performance in these sports for flexibility and cardio reasons. Seriously, watch the energy level in a 135lb fight and compare it to 170lbs, then HWs. Goes down drastically with each weight class.

[DCSpartan]

Yes, you guys are right, there are anomalies at the highest levels of the sport,

Every high school wrestling meet has heavyweight wrestlers. Where do you live? North Korea?

[KidAlchemy]

hard work brah

Mike Tyson was 5'10 - that isnt genetically gifted.

True but genetics play an role too, some are big boys others are little boys.